On 26 September 2022, Deputy Secretary-General, Ms Atsuko Hirose, attended the opening ceremony of the exhibition on the history and culture of Kazakhstan at the European Parliament, to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relationship between Kazakhstan and the European Union.
The event, which was co-hosted by the Mission of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the member of the European Parliament Mr Helmut Geuking, was attended by many ambassadors and diplomatic...
On 25 September 2022, Deputy Secretary-General, Ms Atsuko Hirose, attended the Mongolia – EU Cultural Day celebration hosted by H.E. Mr. Luvsanvandan Bold, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mongolia to the Kingdom of Belgium, Kingdom of the Netherlands and Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, and Head of the Mission of Mongolia to the European Union. The event, which included a performance by the Mongolian Grand Theatre of National Art, was attended by many ambassadors, diplomatic...
On 15 September 2022, the task force members established within the Energy Charter Secretariat under the project, “Cooperation for Restoring the Ukrainian Energy Infrastructure,” held the First Coordination Meeting.
The meeting gathered representatives of the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine, foreign governments and international organisations, Ukrainian NGOs and think tanks. The event was opened by Secretary General Mr Guy Lentz and...
Taking into consideration the alert on "Code Red for Humanity", as defined by UN Secretary-General António Guterres in his statement on the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, understanding the need for immediate actions to implement the European Green Deal, and being conscious and aware of climate change impact on the European and the global economies, possibly dwarfing the unprecedented energy crisis, and noting the most severe, for the last few decades or...
On 5 September 2022, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) released a new IIA Issues Note taking stock of publicly known arbitral proceedings in investment disputes that may be relevant to climate action, dividing them into three groups: environmental, renewable and fossil fuel-related disputes.
The Issues Note considers the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) as the most frequently invoked agreement for “environmental” cases, which UNCTAD considers are cases “against measures...
On 5 September 2022, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) released a new IIA Issues Note analysing climate change-related provisions in existing treaty practice and offering various reform policy options for drafting climate-responsive International Investment Agreements (IIAs).
The Issues Note further refers to the 24 June 2022 Agreement in Principle on the modernisation of the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) and its provisions relevant for the protection of the...
On 8 September 2022, the Secretary-General of the Energy Charter Secretariat, Mr Guy Lentz, and the Deputy Secretary-General, Ms Atsuko Hirose, met with H.E. Mr. Vsevolod Chentsov, theAmbassador and the Head of the Mission of Ukraine to the European Union.
During the visit to the Mission of Ukraine to the European Union, the Secretary-General updated the Ambassador about the Secretariat’s actions related to the collection of the Russian Federation’s arrears to the Energy Charter Conference...
On 7 September 2022, the Secretary-General of the Energy Charter Secretariat, Mr Guy Lentz, and the Deputy Secretary-General, Ms Atsuko Hirose, met with Deputy Ambassador Mr. Askar Abdrakhmanov, and Mr. Almas Dissyukov, Counsellor, of the Mission of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the European Union.
The parties discussed the most pressing issues of international cooperation in the energy sector and the modernisation of the Energy Charter Treaty, and the importance of the necessity for a...
On 6 September 2022, Deputy Secretary General of the Energy Charter Secretariat, Ms. Atsuko Hirose, participated in the roundtable event, “Constitutional Reforms: Basis for Ensuring the Rule of Law, Security and Free and Fair Civil Society,” at the Brussels Press Club upon the invitation of the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The delegation from Uzbekistan, comprised of high-level government officials and members of the Oliy Majlis (Parliament), updated the representatives of the...
On 5 September 2022, the Secretary-General of the Energy Charter Secretariat (ECS), Mr Guy Lentz, and the Deputy Secretary-General, Ms Atsuko Hirose, held an online meeting with the Vice President, Europe, of Breakthrough Energy, Ms Ann Mettler. Breakthrough Energy is a network of entities and initiatives established in 2015 by Bill Gates and a coalition of private investors.
Ms Ishita Pant and Mr Edward Safaryan, Investment Officials at the ECS and Ms Jordan Poncet, Associate at Breakthrough...
On 2 September 2022, the Secretary-General of the Energy Charter Secretariat, Mr Guy Lentz, and the Deputy Secretary-General, Ms Atsuko Hirose, met with Ambassador Mr. Yasushi Masaki, and Mr. Akiyoshi Kawabata, Counsellor, of the Mission of Japan to the European Union.
The parties discussed issues related to the modernisation of the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) and preparations for the Energy Charter Conference in Mongolia in November 2022. The meeting was concluded by both parties agreeing to...
The first Ukrainian Energy Sector Damage Assessment Report is now available online. This is the most comprehensive report to date, covering damages inflicted on all energy sector facilities by the invading Russian military forces.
The report was prepared by the Task Force under the project, “Cooperation for Restoring the Ukrainian Energy Infrastructure”, which is funded by the European Commission and implemented by the Energy Charter Secretariat.
On 25 August 2022, the Secretary-General of the Energy Charter Secretariat, Mr Guy Lentz, and the Deputy Secretary-General, Ms Atsuko Hirose, held an online meeting with the Chair of the International Energy Charter Industry Advisory Panel (IAP), Mr Rafael Cayuela.
The parties exchanged opinions on current issues related to energy and climate “crisis” in Europe and the rest of the world, and its impact on energy and food supply, consumption practices, and industrial production. The IAP Chair...
At the invitation of the Ukrainian Ambassador, Secretary General Mr. Guy Lentz attended today the unveiling of a huge 30-meter Ukrainian flag in celebration of the Ukrainian Independence Day at the Grand Place in Brussels. On this occasion, he had the opportunity to meet the President of the European Commission, Ms. Ursula von der Leyen.
On 23 August 2022, Secretary-General Mr. Guy Lentz met with with H.E. Mr. Vsevolod Chentsov, theAmbassadorand the Head of the Mission of Ukraine to the European Union.
The Secretary-General and the Ambassador had an exchange regarding the recent notification of Ukraine under Article 17(2)(a)-(b) of the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) and discussed the situation in the Zaporizka nuclear power plant (ZNPP) in Ukraine, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe which has been occupied by the Russian...
